Germany entry-level job postings drop by two-thirds since 2022

An analysis by the job platform Indeed reveals a significant decline in entry-level job advertisements in Germany. Since the record high in 2022, postings for positions aimed at career starters have plummeted by more than two-thirds.

This contraction is notably sharper than the overall job market trend, which saw a 39 percent decrease during the same period. While the total number of job listings in July 2026 remained 8 percent higher than in 2019, entry-level roles have dropped 46 percent compared to that baseline.

The decline spans nearly all sectors, with knowledge-based and office roles being the most heavily impacted. Specifically, marketing vacancies fell by 75 percent, IT applications and solutions by 77 percent, and project management by 60 percent.

In contrast, apprenticeship positions have remained robust. Two sectors showed growth since 2022: healthcare, medicine, and pharmacy, which rose by 18 percent, and the food, gastronomy, and hospitality sectors, which increased by 10 percent.